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ASMP Professional Business Practices in Photography

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Revised and updated!
The business bible for
professional
photographers


At last! The eagerly anticipated revised edition of
the photographer's "business bible" is here, fully
updated with the last word on key business practices,
industry standards, and resources. Up-to-the-minute coverage now includes digital asset
management; metadata standards; the role of
Internet, FTP, and e-mail technologies; the impact
of media consolidation on assignment and stock photography;
and much more. This indispensable guide
covers the full range of business and legal questions
that photographers might have, with comprehensive
advice from the ASMP, the foremost authority
in the field. In eleven in-depth chapters, more
than two dozen industry experts explore pricing
and negotiating, ethics, rights in traditional and
electronic media, publishing, and much more. Business
and legal forms, checklists, and an extensive
cross-media bibliography make this the one reference book that deserves a place on every successful photographer's bookshelf.


• Covers all of today's most urgent issues in photography


• Contributions from more than two dozen
experts, all professional photographers


• 60,000 copies sold!

480 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 1997

23 people are currently reading
77 people want to read

About the author

The American Society of Media Photographers, abbreviated ASMP, is a professional association of imaging professionals, including photojournalists, architectural, underwater, food/culinary and advertising photographers as well as video/film makers and other specialists. Its members are primarily those who create images for publications, though many cross over into wedding and portrait photography.

ASMP advocates for photographers' legal rights, supports information-sharing among members, and provides business and technical information. Much of the material is freely available to the public. For instance, it offers a web tutorial on registering copyrights, and on model releases and property releases. It also helps users of images find qualified photographers for project assignments ("Find a Photographer") and helps photographers find qualified assistants ("Find an Assistant.")

The ASMP has more than 4,000 members in over 30 countries.

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5 stars
51 (43%)
4 stars
33 (28%)
3 stars
27 (23%)
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5 (4%)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Paris Chanel.
385 reviews30 followers
August 20, 2021
This is a great reference guide filled with methods, samples, legal jargon, and advice for photographers wanting to get their feet wet in the business of commercial and stock photography, as well as those who already have a career in it. However resourceful, this book needs an update to reflect the times we're in now.
Profile Image for Jenna.
142 reviews1 follower
December 6, 2018
Probably more like 3.5 - it's a collection of articles - not everything will apply unless you are doing stock and/or commercial
Profile Image for datieray.
26 reviews
October 10, 2020
Full of all the useful, legal information every artist needs to protect their art while trying to make a living at it. Not as dry as most technical texts I’ve read.
Profile Image for Al Lock.
800 reviews23 followers
May 4, 2025
If you are a working photographer, you should read this book. The business practices it lays out are far more important to being a successful professional photographer than your choice of camera is.
Profile Image for Michael.
9 reviews
August 28, 2012
A good business resource for photographers, but it is geared more towards established photographers who work in commercial/advertising & stock photography. While there is plenty of good information in this book for all photographers, there should have been more information aimed at photographers who are just getting started on their professional careers and for photographers who don't work primarily in the stock & commercial/advertising fields of photography.
Profile Image for Xina.
13 reviews4 followers
April 14, 2008
rules of profesh photographers.
Profile Image for Rachael.
23 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2011
Most of this book could have been summarized.
Profile Image for Kim.
4 reviews1 follower
October 12, 2014
I read this book as a required text for a class. This book is not written like a text book-it is written in such a way that the legal terms can be understood by a non-legalese type person (like me)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

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